The Seymour and Trinity Lutheran cross-country teams will begin their seasons by racing in races this week. The Owls will host their invitational Thursday at Freeman Field, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Randy Fife returns as boys coach and Spencer Sunbury is back as coach of the Lady Owls.

The Trinity runners will compete in the Small School Invite Saturday at Southwestern (Shelby) beginning at 10:30 a.m. Keith Dyer is the coach of the Trinity boys and girls.

Fife has 18 runners, including six seniors, while Gracie Adams is the only senior among the Lady Owls.

Fife said, “We’d like to build on what we did last year. We ended up in the regional, one level from the state finals. We just didn’t perform well there. The goal again will be to get back to that level down at Evansville.

“I think if the kids continue to work hard, we should be OK. We’ve got a deep group of seniors, but we’ve also got some young kids that will challenge them a little bit, which will be good, and provide for good competition.”

The senior veterans are Wesley Proffer, Will Proffer, Tyler Tormoehlen and Kylan Ellerbe, junior Micah Jablonski, and sophomore Caleb Jablonski. Tormoehlen was named Mr. Cross Country last year, and Micah Jablonski was the Owls’ No. 1 runner last fall.

Tormoehlen said, “I’m hoping to go 17:30 to start with. That’s my benchmark goal. I’m hoping to be in the top three on the team. Hopefully, by the end of the season I can get down into the 16s.

“Our workouts have gone pretty well so far. We’ve had a lot more runs rather than workouts lately, so those have been going pretty well. We’ve just been getting into the speed workouts. Those have been going good, so far, too.

“We’re hoping to place better at regionals than we did last year. That’s always the goal. On Fridays we’ll take it easier, but the rest of the week we’ll be going hard.”

Wesley Proffer and his twin brother traded off second and third place finishes last fall.

Wesley said, “I want to start out around 17:30 like Ty and then maybe break 17 minutes and then get down into the 16s. I want to stay second on the team, and maybe catch up to Micah. I’ll work on it.

“I think we’ve got great depth in the seniors, and then we’ve got Micah in the junior class who is helping support us. We’re looking for some freshmen and sophomores to step up.

“I’m here to enjoy it and I want the team to have a good season. I like Seymour’s course. It’s not exactly the fastest course, but it’s a good medium.”

Tormoehlen said, “It’s a good course, better than Bedford.”

Fife said, “We’ve just got to continue to make sure we work hard. We’ve just got to get that buy in every day. We’re not quite there yet. Nobody has established themselves a solid No. 1 yet.

“We had a better summer than the year before, but this group of seniors hasn’t developed into that daily grind mentality, and we’re getting there. We had some talks in pre-season and things have been better since we’ve had those conversation.”

He said Thursday, “is all about effort and a hard 3.1 miles. It’s usually warm out for the opening meet. I tell them all the time, it’s not about the time they run, it’s the effort they give.”

Sunbury said, “It’s going to be an interesting season. They’ve been working really hard here lately. It’s a good group of girls. I don’t know what to expect at the beginning of the season. I know they are going to go out and run hard.

“We’ve got quite a few young runners that I think are going to be stepping up into positions. It will probably take a few races for them to get their confidence and a feel for racing.”

“On Thursday we’d like to come home with a championship. I think we’re strong enough that we can win that.”

“I think we’ve got two or three girls that can be in the low 21s. That would be nice to see.”

Adams said this season will be special for her.

Breaking 20 minutes, “is something I’ve really wanted to accomplish. I sadly lost my Papaw a couple days ago so that is kind of what will keep me motivated this year, because he was my kind of person, so I’m trying to do it for him this year.”

Adams filled the No. 2 position for the Lady Owls last fall.

“I really want to commit to a college this year. That’s my goal, to take the next step to the next level. I not only want to lead by team to victories, but I have a goal of being first for my team.”

She said her best time last year was 21:03, and she wants to get down to the high 19s this fall, “which is a big jump to make but it is something I have really wanted to accomplish. The summer workouts have gone great.

“Spencer told us at the beginning of the season that he has a plan for us, and he really wants us to stick to it. I feel like we all worked hard this summer, and it’s going great.

“I feel like I’ve achieved a lot already this season, my legs feel faster, my legs feel great.”

Sunbury said, “Gracie had a really good summer. She looks like a stronger runner; she looks like a more confident runner so I’m excited to see what she can do this year. It’s been kind of a surprise to watch her this summer.”

He said he expects AnnMarie Shuler and Kelly Beavers to run up front with Adams, and he expects them to be followed by Emma Doriot, Aidda Schepman, Lauren Dowell and Izabellah Long.

“I think we’re going to have a tight pack,” Sunbury said. “I think they’ll push each-other.”

Dyer has one senior (Cheyenne Campbell) among three runners on the girls’ roster, while there aren’t any juniors or seniors among the six boys’ runners.

Dyer said, “Cheyenne coming into the season healthy, which is a good thing. The last couple seasons she has had a broken foot one time and a concussion another. We’re expecting to have a complete season with her this year.

“She started practicing earlier this year versus others when she split time between cross country and volleyball. She’s concentrating on cross country this year. I really expect her to be at the top of the pack in most races.

“I definitely think she can get down to 21.”

Dyer said he expects freshmen Elizabeth Downey and Emma Mellencamp to lower their times as the season moves along.

“They are doing really well. Downey is coming in with a strong background in swimming, as well, so she has a lot of endurance already naturally built up, which has carried over. She is really running well.

“Mellencamp is new to running. She is definitely putting in the work and running hard.”

Campbell said, “I want to get a good time and PR because I haven’t been able to run since my freshman year. I’m looking to run below 22 (on Saturday). I’m really excited.

“I think I’m in good shape. I’m excited to be a leader to the younger girls. I’ve never had teammates.

I want to start out fast, especially in those big meets. I’m definitely excited for this year.”

There are five sophomores and one freshman on the boys’ team.

Dyer said, “The sophomore group is good.”

He expects Oliver Eggersman to fill the No. 1 position. He ran distance for the track team in the spring.

“He’s a real consistent runner. The form and stride you see at the beginning of the race he keeps throughout, and he has a nice kick at the end,” Dyer said.

He said the other sophomore returned from last year and he expects them to be in contention to move on to the regional from the sectional. “There is no reason that they can’t,” he said. “I’d like everybody to be 21 and under.”